Front safety attachment for skis



April 30, 1968 cs. P. J. SALOMON 3,380,750

FRONT SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR SKIS Filed June 13, 1966 H912 fiear'g'es fSa/omaa INVIEN role 4 Sheets-Sheet ll 30, 1968 e. P.'J. SALOMON 3,380,750

FRONT SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR SKIS Filed June 13, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 George; PJ. Salomon INVENTOR.

BY W April 30, 1968 G. P. J. SALOMON 3,330,750

FRONT SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR SKIS Filed June 13, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig: 7

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April 30, 1968 J, SALOMQN 3,380,750

FRONT SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR SKIS Filed June 13, 1966 4 Sheets$heet 4 I 1/ Geo/9'65 PM Salerno/Z I N VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,380,750 FRONT SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR SKIS Georges P. J. Salomon, 34 Ave. de Loverchy, Annecy, Hante-Savoie, France Filed June 13, 1966, Ser. No. 557,240 Claims priority, application France, June 14, 1965,

6 Claims. oi. 280-1135) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a front safety attachment for skis.

Most of the known front attachments for skis have a thrust member provided with two wings or a jaw for holding the boot of the user, the said thrust member being capable of pivoting on a pin when .an abnormal stress endangers the safety of the user.

However, this system is disadvantageous in that the release of the thrust member is not progressive, the system I only having two positions, open or closed. Furthermore, in open position, the user must manually relock the thrust member, an operation that requires complete deharnessing of the ski, most of the time.

The present invention proposes to overcome these disadvantages in a simple and efiicient manner.

According to the invention, two T-shaped jaws are each articulated at the base of the center leg thereof on one of two pivots located on either side of the longitudinal axis of the attachment or on a single central pivot. The rear branches of the jaws are shaped to receive and hold the forward end of the boot of the user whereas the forward branches each have the shape of an arcuate beak and are in contact with one another. This contact is held by any resilient means such as pistons pressed on the convex portions of the front branches by means of springs that are preferably adjustable. The said pistons freely slide in a support that is preferably constituted by the casing of the mechanism. In the event of an abnormal force that may endanger the safety of the user, the boot which is subjected to a torsion stress tends to push outwardly the rearward branch thereof on which the force is applied.

In view of the articulation of each jaw on its pivot, the forward branch of a jaw pushes the forward branch of the opposed jaw away, thus applying thereto a rotational movement about its pivot. This difierential and simultaneous rotation caused by the interaction of the two jaws is controlled by the well-defined shape of the convex portions of the rear branches of the jaws and by the pressure of the springs .acting on the pistons. Thus, when the forces are smaller than those that would cause an accident, said forces are absorbed in the thrust member without causing complete opening thereof. If the torsion stress is abnormal, the thrust member opens completely, releasing the boot by opening of the two jaws.

Always according to the invention and in view of obtaining better sliding of the two jaws one on the other, the beaks of the latter are preferably provided with rollers.

According to another embodiment of the invention, 21

double action compression spring, preferably adjustable, spreads the two rearward branches of the jaws, pressing the forward branches thereof on a flat cam having two symmetrical ramps and pivoting on a shaft secured in the longitudinal axis of the attachment. The cam is held in its average position, that is, in the symmetrical position of the two ramps in relation to the longitudinal axis of the attachment, by a double action spiral spring. When the boot is subjected to a torsion stress, one of the jaws opens outwardly driving the cam which allows the other jaw to pivot slightly so that an abnormal stress which is however not sufliciently dangerous for the user will be absorbed by the resiliency and flexibility of the attachment. As said above, for a dangerous torsion stress, the cam continues its rotation under the action of the jaw to allow unlocking to release the boot.

Always according to the invention, the spring pushing the two jaws could preferably 'be located in the longitudinal axis of the attachment, the action thereof being provided to the two jaws through a piston bearing on protrusions of the center leg of the said jaws. The protrusions are preferably arranged opposite the transverse branches of the jaws, in relation to the axis of rotation.

It will be noted that in all of the above-mentioned cases, complete opening of the jaws allows automatic relocking of the system Without manual intervention due to the shape of the said jaws or of the cam and under the action of the springs. Also, the flexibility and resiliency of the described mechanism makes it possible to precisely and constantly center the boot of the user.

The invention will besides be best understood by the I following description having reference to the appended schematic drawing giving, by way of non-limitative examples, various preferred embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the mechanism for jaw interaction, in closed position, of the front attachment according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view according to line H- II of the attachment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1, as it starts to unlock.

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to that of FIG. 1 illustrating the attachment mechanism in completely unlocked or released position.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of the attachment mechanism of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an attachment made according to :a further embodiment of the invention, shown in closed position.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the attachment of FIG. 6 illustrated as the jaws start to open.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the attachment of FIG. 6 shown in completely opened position of the jaws.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an adjusting device for the spacing spring of the two jaws.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the mounting device for the spacing spring of the two jaws.

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of an attachment for holding a boot on a ski and made according to a further embodiment of the invention, the outer casing of the said attachment having been removed to facilitate understanding of the mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a partial view, in perspective, of another embodiment of the rear clamping branches of the jaws FIG. 13 is a plan view of the attachment shown in FIG. 11.

In FIG. 1, the forward end of boot 1 is held by means of the upper rims of recesses 2 and 3 formed on the generally T-shaped jaws 5 and 6. The latter pivot about axes 7 and 8 and are held in contact with one another at the end 9 of their forward extremity by two pistons 10 and 11 pressed thereon by two springs 12 and 13, pistons 10 and 11 sliding in a support 14 that may serve as a casing.

FIG. 2 particularly illustrates how the boot 1 is held on the ski 4 by the upper rim of the recess 3 formed on the jaw 6, as described above.

In FIG. 3, a thrust according to arrow 18 which is strong but not enough however to cause unlocking, gives a rotational movement to the jaw 6 about its pivot 8. The extremity or beak 9 of the said jaw slides on the ramp 19 of jaw driving the latter into rotation about its pivot 7. During rotation of the said jaws 5 and 6, the portion 20 of the said jaw 5 pushes on piston to compress spring 12. If the thrust along arrow 18 decreases or stops, the compressed spring 12 will push the jaw 5 back which, because of the shape of its ramp 19 and through its beak or extremity 9, will bring the jaw 6 back to its original position, thus recentering the boot 1 of the skier in the longitudinal axis of the attachment.

In FIG. 4, the thrust according to arrow 18 has increased and the beak 9 of the jaw 6 has thus left the ramp 19 to slide on the portion 24 of the jaw 5, the portion 24 being generally in the form of an arc of circle the center of which coincides with that of the pivot 8 of the jaw 6. By thus pivoting, jaw 6 releases the boot 1 of the user. At the same time, the jaw 5 which is pushed back by the beak 9, compresses spring 12 further which reacts to bring the jaws 5 and 6 in their initial position.

In FIG. 5, the friction beaks 9 are preferably provided with two rollers 27 and 28 freely mounted on axles 29 and 30 solid with the jaws 5 and 6. This arrangement makes it possible to considerably decrease the friction and to obtain a more flexible and accurate operation of the device.

In FIG. 6, the boot 1 is held by the legs 32, 33 of the jaws 34 and 35 articulated on a central pivot 36 and held spread by a spring 38 which is preferably adjustable. The said spring holds the beaks 39 and 40 of the said jaws 34 and 35 against a cam 42. The latter swivels on a pivot 43 having two generally symmetrical ramps 44 joined together by edges 45 to the face 46, the said face 46 being a circular arc the center of which coincides with that of the cam. This cam is held in a middle position by a double action spiral spring 48 freely wound around pivot 43 and having two branches 49 and 50 entering into a circular slot 52 provided through the casing, through the base plate of the attachment or a similar part.

In FIG. 7, a force in the direction of arrow 54 applied by the end of the boot and which is relatively important but will nevertheless not cause unlocking of the attachment, drives jaw 34 into rotation. As the latter pivots, it bears through its beak 39 on the cam 42 which in turn rotates, pushing the jaw 35 back. If the force in the direction of arrow 54 decreases or stops, the cam 42 which has ceased to rotate is brought back to its initial position by the spiral spring 48 which was compressed during said rotation. The return of the cam 42 causes that of the jaws 34 and 35 to automatically recenter the boot 1.

In FIG. 8, the force in the direction of arrow 54 has increased, the jaw 34 has continued its rotation and caused that of cam 42. The rotation of cam 42 no longer has any effect on the jaw 35 because of its concentric face 46 and the boot is thus released. The simultaneous and diiferential movement of the jaws 34 and 35 is compensated and helped by the action of spring 38. The spiral spring 48 having been compressed by the rotation of cam 42, it brings the latter as well as the jaws in original position without manual handling by the user.

In FIG. 9, the spring 38 is adjusted by rotation of a threaded axle 56 causing a washer 57, held against rotation, to move back and forth. The said washer serves also as indicator, being visible through the slot 58 provided through the casing 59. The adjustment of washer 57 is limited on one side by a flange60 against which abuts the jaw 34 and on the other side of the thread, by a stop ring or the like 62 nested in a groove in the axle 56. The jaw 35 bears against a sleeve 63 sliding on a smooth portion of the said axle 56 on the one hand, and through a bore of the casing 59, on the other hand.

In FIG. 10, the spring 38 is prestressed before assembly and presses-two cylindrical end members 65 outwardly, the latter being guided in translation in the casing 66. The jaws 34 and 35 bear on the ends of the said end members.

In FIG. 11, the mechanism is similar to that described in FIG. 6. However, the resilient adjustable device comprising a screw 68, a spring 69 and a piston 70 is arranged along the longitudinal axis of the attachment on a support or on the casing (not shown). The jaws are provided with holding books 72 for the boot 1.

In FIG. 12, the hook 72 for each jaw 1 is conveniently replaced by a leg 73 through which is provided a slot 74 for the displacement of the screw 75 threaded on a hook 76. With this arrangement, it is thus possible to adjust the height of the said hook 76.

In FIG. 13, the spring 69 which is adjustable in tension by means of the screw 68 mounted on the support 71 pushes the piston 70 against protuberances 78 and 79 provided on the jaws 80 and 81. When a torsion force in the direction of arrow 17 is produced by the boot of the user, the jaw 81 is driven in the direction of arrow 17 and because of its pivot mounting on axle 36, its protuberance 78 is disengaged from the piston 70. At the same time, the cam 42 driven into counter-clockwise rotation pushes the beak 39 of the jaw 80 back in the direction opposite that of arrow 17. As a consequence, the protuberance 79 of the jaw 80 acting on the piston 70 compresses the spring 69 the pressure of which is thus distributed to the kinematic assembly of the attachment, whatever may be its position.

Many changes may be made to the above-described embodiments while remaining within the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is to be construed from the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a safety attachment for holding the front end of a boot to a ski, the combination comprising:

(a) a pair of generally T-shaped jaws formed of a central branch and of a transverse bar, said bar having a boot-engaging end and an operating end;

(b) pivotal means through said central bars to mount said jaws on said ski for movement of said boot-engaging ends to boot holding and releasing positions;

(c) resilient means urging said operating ends toward one another;

(d) interacting means at said operating ends constructed and arranged, when one of said jaws is acted upon by a twisting thrust of the boot smaller than a predetermined magnitude, to cause one operating end to exert a pressure upon the other operating end and to cause both jaws to pivot in the same direction and upon collapse of said thrust to automatically return to said boot-holding position; said interacting means causing a sudden substantial release of said pressure from said operating ends upon increase of said thrust beyond said magnitude.

2. A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the extremity of the central branch of each jaw is formed as a protuberance parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski and said resilient means is an adjustable spring loaded piston urged against said protuberances simultaneously; said spring loaded piston urging operating ends against said interacting means.

3. {A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resilient means are two spring-loaded pistons each acting on one operating end to drive it in abutment with the operating end of the opposed jaw.

4. A combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein the interacting means consist of pointed abutting ends formed by diverging straight ramps at the extremity of the operating ends for the respective riding of the pointed ends during movement of said jaws caused by a thrust smaller than said predetermined magnitude, each straight ramp being followed by an arcuate ramp for the riding of the pointed end of the opposed operating end, said arcuate ramp being concentric with the pivot axis of said opposed operating end.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein the intersecting means consist of rollers at the extremity of the operating ends for the respective riding of the said rollers, each of said roller being followed by an arcuate ramp for the riding of the roller of the opposed operating end, said arcuate ramp being concentric with the pivot axis of said opposed operating end.

6. A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interacting means is a cam mounted for pivoting movement about an axis along the longitudinal axis of the ski; said oam has two arcuate lateral ramps symmetrical about said longitudinal axis when in neutral position; said interacting means includes spring means to urge said cam in neutral position; said cam has a further arcuate r-amp joining said lateral ramps, said resilient means driving said operating ends against said cam.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,867,446 1/ 1959 Rehacek 280- 1135 3,105,696 10/1963 Rehacek 280\l1.35 3,194,574 1/1963 'Beyl 280'11.35

RICHARD J. JOHNSON, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Examiner.

J. H. BRANNEN, L. D. MORRIS, Assistant Examiners. 

